1 annniioiis of the day;
2 ftequences are extremely harassing from the pretexrs afforded for
3 extorting money ; arid this evil is increased by the ajipointTiipnts In
4 the jx)Hce being fanned. The Govemmeiit can gain nothing bv these
5 exactions, since the whulc amount paid to the treasury, on account of
6 fines and petty confiscations in the populous city of Vc.^hawer, is only
7 1500 n^iees, (equal to 150/.) per annum. The profit to the farmers
8 of the offioM of police mmt} of cour8e» be much greater dian this ;
9 yet it pfolnbljbeiBn no propoKtion to tiw witioiiiiid anxiety ivliidi
10 h oocMions <o the people. In other leipeota* the police m good $
11 and there are few crimeB or dJatiiibanoes. The office of pdice go
12 the Bountb frequent^ in the night ; and eveiy qmiter has gates*
13 which an cloaed at a ootain hour, ao that robberies are-ncM to int^
14 powible. The people are not alloivred to go about the streets that
15 part-of the iii|^ during which the Kn^'a bond ocadcs to pli^. "It
16 ceases between eleven and twehre. at nij^ and does not leeoAmeaeg '
17 tin.d^-bi«afc; andf as it is heard over eray part of the td#n, itjgiVe*
18 sufficient intimatian .of the time when oommunication is allowed <^
19 forbidd^ H any man is obl^^ to go afabnt in these forbidden
20 hours, he is liable to be taken up» unless he esnies a light io sheir
21 Ihat he has no secret design.
22 It may not be amiss to mention in this place the way in which the
23 day b divided in Afghaunistaun. The day begins at SeAr, which is a
24 little before the commencement of the morning twilight, and which
25 is enjoined as the hour of the first prayers. Tlic next mnrkod period
26 is Aft and Boanrnnd, or sun-rise, after which is Chamhty or luiicheon
27 time, about eleven o clock. Neemrnoz (or noon) is the f^hort period
28 bcLween Cliausht and AuuUee Pcsltcm (or Zohr), an hour [irescribed
29 for prayers, and marked by the first inclination of t lie shadt)\v towards
30 the east. The next time is about four in the afternoon, when a man*8
31 shadow is as long as himself ; this is called Aukhiree PcKheen, next is
32 AtTy or Decger, an hour of prayer about five. S/iavm is another time
33 for prayer soon after sun-set. Khooftun is the last prayer, at the end
34 of twilight ; and Tvblee Sehum (the third drum) is the last time the
35 King's band pkys (about half-past eleven). These are die terme em-
36 L L S